PHOTO: Getting the most out of your IHG Rewards is just a matter of knowing the rules. (Photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Despite a recent devaluation, InterContinental Hotel Group's rewards program still offers good value for families. With IHG Rewards, you can book a free hotel stay at 5,000 properties around the globe. This includes higher end hotels like InterContinental and Hotel Indigo, all the way down to local favorites like Holiday Inn Express.
Earning IHG Rewards is easy whether you travel now, or simply hope to in the future. By linking your free rewards account when you book a paid stay, you can earn points for each overnight stay at IHG-branded hotels and resorts. You can also earn points (including huge signup bonuses) with the IHG Rewards Select Credit Card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, or any other Chase card that belongs in the Ultimate Rewards program.
Overnight stays start at just 10,000 points per night, yet climb to 60,000 points per night for higher end IHG properties. As an example, a side-of-the-highway Holiday Inn usually costs around 15,000 per night, yet the InterContinental: Le Moana Bora Bora rings in at 60,000 points. A mid-level property like the all-inclusive Holiday Inn Resort in Montego Bay will soon cost 40,000 points per night under the new program changes.
How to Use Points and Cash
Most IHG enthusiasts love their IHG Rewards Select Credit Card because it offers a free night at any IHG property worldwide on each account anniversary. With points at a premium, it's smart to use your free nights for higher end properties that cost a bundle in either cash or points.
On the flip-side though, there are times when you must use points. With some of the higher end properties charging an entire signup bonus for a single night, it's essential to find a way to stretch them out.
Enter IHG's points-and-cash program. It's not new by any means, but it can help you score more free and affordable travel if utilized well. Basically, this program lets you pay a nominal amount of cash to "buy" some additional points for a hotel booking. This way, you're stretching your points as far as they can go.
While some of the point "buys" come in different denominations, it's fairly easy to explain how this works.
Take the InterContinental: Paris Le Grand, for example. If you book this hotel with points right now, your options would look like this:
60,000 points per night
55,000 points plus $40 per night
50,000 points plus $70 per night
45,000 points plus $99 per night
By using IHG's points and cash option, you're effectively "buying" points at an affordable rate. Booking with 50,000 points and $70 means you're buying 10,000 points for $70 - at a rate of .07 cents per point. That's usually cheaper than buying points from IHG outright, and it's much cheaper than paying the full freight for a stay at this hotel, since summer rates go as high as $650 USD per night.
Final Thoughts
While earning points and miles can make travel much more affordable, learning to stretch your points is equally lucrative. With IHG's points and cash option, you'll be well on your way to exploring the world on a budget you can afford.
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